September 28, 2016

Like a River Glorious Blog Tour: Review

I write books about teens who must do brave things. I'm originally from California, but I now live in Arizona with my husband, who is the smartest and therefore sexiest man I know. My books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. I especially love to write about questions I don't know the answers to.

The Book

Like a River Glorious by Rae CarsonAfter a harrowing journey across the country, Leah Westfall and her friends have finally arrived in California and are ready to make their fortunes in the Gold Rush. Lee has a special advantage over the other new arrivals in California—she has the ability to sense gold, a secret known only by her handsome best friend Jefferson and her murdering uncle Hiram.

Lee and her friends have the chance to be the most prosperous settlers in California, but Hiram hasn’t given up trying to control Lee and her power. Sabotage and kidnapping are the least of what he’ll do to make sure Lee is his own. His mine is the deepest and darkest in the territory, and there Lee learns the full extent of her magical gift, the worst of her uncle, and the true strength of her friendships. To save everyone, she vows to destroy her uncle and the empire he is building—even at the cost of her own freedom.Buy: Read Between the LynesBarnes & NobleAmazon

The ReviewOne of my favorite things about Rae's writing is the simple beauty of it. She is an expert storyteller who keeps you enthralled.Lee is such a strong heroine, doing what she can to save her friends and newly made family. I didn't realize how much time would be spent with her uncle Hiram, but it really gave her time to stew and learn how to be a woman who can wield power and femininity in her era. (Also, side note the ick factor with Hiram is strong.) Like a River Glorious is largely about Lee coming into her own and learning the extent of her gold senses/magic. I know people wanted more magic in Walk on Earth a Stranger, and I think Like a River Glorious can fill that need. WoEaS was lots of worldbuilding and character introduction, and it was a journey book. LaRG was lots of plot and tension, and it was great. I enjoyed WoEaS, but, like with Rae's previous trilogy, the second book is much stronger than the first. (And I honestly cannot wait to see what she does with book three.)The one thing I missed in LaRG was Lee's crew. Most of them are back at their camp for most of the novel, and I had come to like them so much during WoEaS. I love that Lee has so many supporters, mainly because she's earned their trust and respect.The book overall is very clean (violence, language, sexual content), and I'd happily recommend this series to younger YA readers.The GiveawayEnter for your chance to win one of three hardcover copies! (US only)

4 comments:

thanks for the extra on content for "ratings." I like that very much. I've been reading from everyone so far that this author is one of the best story tellers around. I can't wait to read this book and her other books too.